Ponting says he's not ready to retire

Former captain Ricky Ponting says he'll quit test cricket before he's dropped from the Australian team, but is not considering retirement at the moment.

SYDNEY: Former captain Ricky Ponting says he'll quit test cricket before he's dropped from the Australian team, but is not considering retirement at the moment.

The 36-year-old veteran of 156 tests told reporters Friday "I totally understand why I'm being asked the questions I'm being asked but, by the same token, I believe I'm good enough, one, to be in the team and that I'm good enough to win games for Australia.

He said he if he keeps doing the work he doing and not getting the results, "then maybe it's time but, at the moment, I don't feel that time is here just yet."

Ponting made 62 in the second innings of Australia's second test against South Africa this week to contribute to its series-leveling win and end a long from drought which had led to calls for his retirement.

He said he took heart from the examples of India's Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who's longevity showed he could still expect to perform at test level.

"I feel there's enough there to want to keep working hard," Ponting said. "Having spoken to a lot of the other guys that have retired in the last few years _ I was captain when Langer, Gilchrist, Warne and all those guys stood down _ so I know the things that were going through their minds.

"What they said about it was they just didn't have the drive or desire to work as hard as they needed to work to get their games back on track again. With me, there's no doubting that at all."

Australia's prospects in the first of two tests against New Zealand, starting at Brisbane on Dec. 1, have been dimmed by the loss of five frontline players to injury.

Shane Watson (hamstring), Shaun Marsh (back), Mitchell Johnson (foot), Pat Cummins (heel) and Ryan Harris (hip) were all ruled out of the match on Friday but Ponting said Australia could win, even with an inexperienced lineup.

"This is obviously a testing time for the depth of Australian cricket," Ponting said. "A lot of the guys that'll probably be considered have been in and around our squad because we've had our fair share of guys, our fast bowlers especially, have been injured for the last little bit.

"Obviously, with the (Australia) A-game going on at the moment and the (Sheffield) Shield game just starting out the back here, I'm sure selectors will be looking long and hard at a lot of those players playing in those games.

"By the time they're ready to announce the squad for Brisbane, I'm sure they'll have a very competitive XI come Thursday." Text: AP